$250 roof compacts - 8/10 x 20/25 (1 Viewer)

vkalia

Robin stroker

• Aug 17, 2007

• #1

My post on the Opticron forum didnt get a lot of responses, so I'll try here:

What do people think of the new crop of compacts roofs in the $200-$250 price range?

There's a few out there:
- Steiner Safaris
- Brunton Eternas
- Celestron Nobles
- Opticron Alphabet Soups

I've been searching the archives here, and everyone loves the LX/HG compacts, and the equivalent Zeiss, Leicas and Swarovskis. On the budget end - $100-$150 - there are lots of recommendations for reverse porros.

However, there isnt a lot said about these mid-tier compact offerings. My intended use is as "contingency" glass - not something I'll take as my primary birding binos, but something I'd like to carry when hiking or on exploratory trips. The last word in low-light performance is not so important... however, sharpness and contrast is. If I were to obtain the optical equivalent of the Nikon Monarchs at this price, I'd be happy.

Possible for $250 or less?

Vandit

 

Tero

Retired

• Aug 18, 2007

• #2

8x25 is OK, also a few 8x28 models
Not so sure about Busnell Excursion, though there are lots that are worse. Try some Pentax models.

By the way, the best compact I have is a Minolta Compact II reverse porro 8x25. It is sharper than many of my roofs and also bright enough even on cloudy days. Nikon makes reverse porros and the optics are nearly as good, not quite. I paid 25 dollars for this discontinued brand.

 

Last edited: Aug 19, 2007

vkalia

Robin stroker

• Aug 19, 2007

• #3

Tero, I was looking for something that is a little more compact & flatter than reverse porros. Also, I've never really liked the ergonomics of most reverse porros I've tried (admittedly not a lot). Hence my preference for roofs - knowing fully well that a $250 roof is probably going to have the same performance as a $100 reverse porro.

Anyone else have any experience with the binos listed above and/or care to chime in with suggestions?

Vandit

 

Tero

Retired

• Aug 19, 2007

• #4

I'm quite happy with Nikon ProStaff ergonomics.

Try the Pentax 8x28 roofs.

 

M

medinabrit

Well-known member

• Aug 23, 2007

• #5

Try looking at the minox bd brw,s for less than $200 at Adorama.
Brian.

 

Tero

Retired

• Aug 23, 2007

• #6

One minox 8x25 is discontinued. This one still available anywhere. Bit narrow fov
http://www.opticsplanet.net/minox-8x24-br-binoculars-w-long-eye-relief.html

 

vkalia

Robin stroker

• Sep 7, 2007

• #7

I went and tried out some double-hinged Minox 10x25s.

Ugh. I cannot deal with that small an exit pupil. And the ergonomics of the two hinges were terrible. What the world needs is a decent 6x25 compact roof with the single hinge.

Until then, I think I am bowing out of the pocketable bino market. On the bright side, I completed my trifecta of binoculars yesterday, getting the Vortex Viper 8x42s in the mail.... just in time for a raptor-photography trip on Sunday.

Vandit

 

BobinKy

Well-known member

• Sep 7, 2007

• #8

vkalia said:

What the world needs is a decent 6x25 compact roof with the single hinge.

Vandit

Click to expand...

Have you tried the Leupold Katmai 6x32?

--Bob
Kentucky, USA

 

Tero

Retired

• Sep 7, 2007

• #9

Search 8x28, you might find something besides Bushnell Excursion, which has some durability issues.

Bushnell 9x25 roofs Legend may actually be OK, never seen it. And it is disappearing.

Vortex has a single hinge
http://www.opticsplanet.net/vortex-fury-8x28-compact-binoculars.html

There is a cheaper Hurricane, but you have to be a little careful with cheap end Vortexes
http://www.opticsplanet.net/vortex-hurricane-8x28-compact-binoculars.html

 

Last edited: Sep 7, 2007

vkalia

Robin stroker

• Sep 7, 2007

• #10

Bob, I've looked at the 6x32s, but if I am going to go with a 32mm objective, I like my Minox BD 8x32s very well for that purpose. If anything, the Leupold Windriver Olympics seems quite decent - but I cannot find any reviews of them.

Tero - I cant find any compact Bushnell Legend roofs either. And I dont want to get $100 roofs, as I am pretty certain they will be too compromised, optically.

Ideally, I'd like an an exit pupil of over 3 at the very least (4 would be perfect - which is where 6x25s would come in, but no one makes them). Which means 8x25 or 8x28s.

Vandit

 

Tero

Retired

• Sep 8, 2007

• #11

This does not help you at all, but over here Cabelas Alaskan guide 10x28 were OK. They are double hinged compacts around 200. The 8x is not made at all. Narrow fov.

There may be similar Opticrons. In Pentax, these are similar
http://www.opticsplanet.net/pentax-10x25-dcf-mc-ii-binoculars.html

No idea if the 28mm vs 25mm difference is significant. I would go with the 8x there, as it has a reasonable fov.

 

Last edited: Sep 8, 2007

Tero

Retired

• Sep 12, 2007

• #12

I reviewed a bunch here.
http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=999258&postcount=28

Now, nobody ask me which ones did I buy and return this time. Hint: brand starts with P. Reason for return: dimness, 10x not really good hand held in a 10x25.